The big day was spent at the Cordell camp for dinner, volleyball and soccer on the lawn along with a giant fireworks display across the lake.

The families enjoyed skiing, a delicious lunch over at the Kincaid camp, YOLO boarding, catching baby turtles, fishing and kayaking. They wrapped up a second evening leisurely floating on the lake watching more of the D'Arbonne fireworks.

Over on Lake Bruin, more celebrations were taking place at the Shackelford camp as the Shackelford girls and their house guests enjoyed all the Southern hospitality expected from such a lovely bunch. Lucy Parks brought along John Paul Watson of Ft. Worth and Yum Lim from South Korea. Susu hosted Emma Rolfe, Anna Mott and Thomas Nickalson and the youngest, Elizabeth had Mary Kyle Allen over to party. Beloved Gert made her annual award winning fried chicken lunch for all the lucky partiers. Also enjoying the holiday with Lucy and Johnwere Sue and James Hearne of The Woodlands, Texas, and Kellye and Wilson Montjoy of Jackson, Mississippi.

The group attended a lovely engagement party for Ross Vizard (Becky and Michael Vizard's son) and his fiancÚ Brooke Kimbro at Cypress Landing - seen there were many local folks: Mossy and Scott Guinn, Mary and Jay Hardwick, Jordan Haddad, one of my longtime idols Dottie Neil (who I first had the pleasure to meet while we were both shaking hands with Jose' Cuervo) along with her darling husband, Jimmy; Lake Bruin real estate dynamo Paula Wilhite, Sam Spires and Allie Watson along with her big group of buddies.

The guests were privileged to attend the "Synchronized Swimming" portion of the Vizard family's Annual "4th of July Olympics" which is the biggest hoot on the lake- second only to Sara Vizard's annual Ski By dressed head to toe as "Lady Liberty." Finally, they all headed down to the Alexander/Weimer/Regan compound for a live band and dancing. What a holiday!

Sadly, this last week was the final performance of the talented Stuart Haddad playing piano locally before he heads down to Baton Rouge to further his career in music. Good luck Stuart!

A very special happy birthday to two special men in my life: the sweetest young man in town and athletic dynamo, Campbell Creed, and of course THE ultimate Southern gentleman, Papa aka Paul Stinson. Two of my besties also celebrate this week, Francie Amman Briscoe and Jennifer McPhearson Frantom, as well this week's birthday belles: Susan Crawford, Julie Weaver, Katie Trettin and Amy Wood. Happy birthday!

Congratulations to John and Chrissy Morris on the birth of their son, adorable William Wilkie Morris, and to all his doting grandparents, Jay and Emily Morris and Ann and Frank Christman.

Also a big congrats to the head of 4th JDC Probation, Larry Norris, on his upcoming retirement. He's such a nice guy and I can't imagine the courthouse without him. True story: when I first started my job (13 years ago!), my computer had a virus that sent out some creepy love poem to a variety of people on my address list. Unfortunately, one was Larry. I wil l never forget that super polite, yet gruff, voice asking me if I sent that email by mistake. I just knew I was getting fired. Now I can laugh about it, but at the time I was mortified. Have a wonderful retirement Larry, you deserve it!

Universal truths from Allyson and Gregory: #1 - coral is always right. Why do we never learn? And #2 - never miss the chance to socialize and entertain, it's what separates us from the boring people.

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Celebrations continue to sparkle from July 4th

Allyson: Keeping the holiday party going on Lake D'Arbonne was the Cordell family and friends including: Misti, Hardeman, John and Hank Cordell; grandparents Big Hardeman and Susan Cordell; Tommy and